Launching method and equipment



Feb. 26, 194 P. M. OLAUGHLIN LAUNCHING METHOD AND EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1942 Feb. 26, 346, v P. M. OALAUGHLIN 2,395,423

LAUNCHING METHOD AND EQUIPMENT riled Sept. 5, 1942 i 3 sheets-sheet 2" Feb. 26, 1946..

P. M. OLAUGHLIN LAUNCHING METHOD AND EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 5, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Tao ' INVEPLJTOR M i/(- Ua ko Patented Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNCHING METHOD AND EQUIPMENT Patrick M. OLaughlin, Coraopolis, Pa., assignor to Draw Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 5, 1942, Serial No. 457,459

6 Claims;

This invention relates to conveyors, and, specifically, to shifting elongate (and, ordinarily heavy) structures from one plane of support to another. It finds practical application in the transfer of a structure to be floated-a section of a dry-dock, for example-frm the horizontal position on land, in which it is, as a practical matter, necessarily built, to an inclined position upon the inclined ways over which it is launched into an adjacent body of water. In such application the invention will here be shown and described. The objects in view are economy and speed in so dealing with such a heavy structure.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a dry-dock section that has been advanced upon horizontal tracks to a position adjacent the upper end of inclined launching ways, and of means that in the practice of the invention are employed for effecting transfer from the tracks to the ways. Fig. II is a similar view, illustrating the progressive action of the means of transfer. Fig. III is a view in plan of the parts as seen in Fig. II. Figs. IV and V are views similar to Figs. I and II, which, taken in sequence with Figs. I and II, illustrate to completion the action of the transfer means. Fig. VI is a view to larger scale, showing in. elevation a detail of Figs. II, III, and IV. Fig. VII is a View in side elevation of a sled that constitutes part of the transfer means of the invention. Fig. VIII shows in end elevation five such sleds in assembly, with the launching ways (shown in transverse and vertical section) on which they rest and run, and overhung by the I body (fragmentarily shown) of the dry-dock section to be transferred. Fig. IX is a view in side elevation of a truck that constitutes part of the transfer means and (fragmentarily) of a drydock section resting upon it. Fig. X is a view of the truck in cross-section, on the plane indicated at X-X, Fig. IX; and in Fig. X the dry- .dock body is shown in overhanging position above,

but not resting upon, the truck.

Referring, first, to Fig. I, let it be understood that the dry-dock section I, having a weight of the order of a thousand short tons, has been built on permanent blocking at a convenient place, some distance to the right; let it be understood that on its completion the dry-dock section has been raised by jacks from the blocking, rested upon transfer carriages 2, and upon carriages 2 has been advanced over tracks 3 from the place of building to the position shown,

adjacent the upper end of the launching ways 3.

The problem of which the present invention affords practical solution is, how to launch such an object so situated. If the attempt were made to provide a proper support, upon, which to carry the dry-dock section to the water while maintaining it in vertical position, and then to carry it still in vertical position into the water, the tipping moment and the concentration of stress upon the end of the ways would be so great that they could not practically be'dealt with. If, on the other hand, after so bringing the structure in vertical position to the brink of the river (or other body of water), the proposal were to be entertained of lowering the river end until the dry-dock section should extend in parallelism to the ways, the necessarily soft ground at the waters edge would have to be prepared in advance, by the driving of piling or by providing the equivalent in timber mats; such expensive provision would have to be repeated for each of the successive sections that advantageously are built and launched in adjacent positions; and, added to all this would be the slowness with which the lowering would be necessarily be effected and the danger with whichit would be attended. This second proposal would on such account be found impractical, as well as the first. T

In the performance of the present invention, the dry-dock section I, borne by transfer carriages 2, is advanced riverward (from right to 'left) upon the horizontally extending rails 3,

until it comes to the position shown. in Fig. I, its advance and left-hand end overhanging at their upper end the inclined launching ways 4.

Turning 'to Figs. III, VI, and VIII, let it be understood that the dry-dock section to be lowered is of an overall length of 124 feet, and that the launching ways that are to be employed are Ways that, serving generally, have been re-enforced for this particular service. The ways normally consist of a succession of pairs of rails 4,

formed of timbers, set pair after pair at a centre- 7 to-centre distance of 36 feet. Each pair of rails 4 is augmented by three more, 40, forming groups of five, as best seen in Fig. VIII; and four such groups are involved in the operation as here described.

Four sleds 5 are provided, each consisting of five lengths of timbers 50, bolted together in parallelism and spaced apart in correspondence to the spacing of the rails 4 and that make up the groups. Those two of the timbers 56, that, when the sled is applied as shown in Fig. VIII, rest upon the rails 4, are equipped with 'side plates 5|, and these plates, when the sled isiin riages 8|.

applied position, overlap the sides of the rails 4 and in so doing serve to hold the sled from lateral displacement while it moves longitudinally on the rails 4, 40. Each timber 50 carries integrally. a block 52 that in side elevation (Fig. VII) is of isosceles triangular shape and that is shaped at the apex with a transversely extending seat 53 of cylindrical curvature. The blocks 52 are mounted upon the timbers 50 with their seats 53 in axial alignment.

The dry-dock section is provided on its bottom and at its riverward end with cylindrical bearing blocks l0, spaced in correspondence to the ways 4; and, when the dry-dock section has been advanced to the position indicated in Fig. I, the four sleds 5 are brought to position upon the ways with the bearing blocks II] in engagement with the seats 53. shown in Fig. I. The drawings show the concave member of the bearing to be borne by the sled and the convex member by the docksection; manifestly there might be reversal of the .curv ture oi these cooperating members. I

-When the sleds 5 have been brought to the position indicated, check timbers 6 are bolted to the ways in positions below the sledson the slope of the ways, and jacks I, based upon the timbers 6., are brought to position, engaging from below the. sleds 5 andconstitutingthrust membersbetween the sleds and the check timbers.

The drawings show two'lines of tracks 3, upon which the. dock section t is. advanced from remote position on the right to the position shown in Fig. I. Trucks 8 are provided, corresponding in number to the tracks 3. The trucks are alike and their structure is shown in Figs. IX and X. A heavy box girder 80 is mounted upon two car- (The carriages themselves may be such as the carriages 2.). Upon the assembled carriages timbers 82 are advantageously set in transverse position; and upon the timbers the girder immediately rests. Upon the, girder a set of blocks 83; is longitudinallyset. Each block is in side elevation of isosceles triangular shape and at the peak of the triangle is formed with a seat Btotcylindrical curvature. The blocks 83 are mounted upon the girder 80 with the seats 84 in axial alignment. The dry-dock section at the and remote from the river is provided on its bottom with cylindrical bearing blocks H, spaced in correspondence to the tracks 3 and adapted to make; pivotal union with the seats. upon the blocks 83. And here. also the complementary concave and convex shapes may be given to the members of the union, either as here shown or .in reverse arrangement, the convex member below and the'concave above.

. When the sleds .5, the timbers B, and the jacks 1 have been placed-as shown in Fig. I anddescribed above, two things are done, and the sequence in which they are done is unimportant, though as a matter of convenience they are done in the order in whichthey will here be described.

the end remote from the river, and by them the landward-end-is raised While the end toward the This is the position river rests pivotally upon the sleds 5. The drydock section, is thus raised clear of the transfer carriages 2.1 The landward end is thus raised to sufllcient height (in this instance through an interval of abouts feet) and the trucks, Bare advanced and the. dock section is brought to rest :pivotally uponv the trucks 8-. The. transfer cartrolling the descent of the dry-dock section upon the ways 4. These block-and-tackle means are here shown to be provided in two identical units, each including a standing block 12, a running block l3, and a cable l4, anchored at one end to one of the blocks, reeved through the blocks, and anchored at the other end to one of the two drums of a warping engine [5. The standing blocks are carried in slings iii of cable, properly anchored on the landward side, and the running blocks are carried by lengths *l I of cable that, wrapped from beneath upon the riverward end of the dry-dock section, are anchored upon an upper surface or deck of the dry-dock section, as indicated at l8, Fig. VI. The two block-and-tackle units in their application are so spaced as to afford proper-support and distribution of load. In making application, all cables are drawn taut, and the operation of the warping engine effects equal paying out of the cables of the two units. For the. installation of this description the cables are of wire rope of 1% inches diameter.

The application of the block-and-tackle units is the second of the two things that are mentioned above as the things to be done afterrthe dry-dock section has been brought to the position illustrated in Fig. I. -When they have been done, the dry-dock section is in the position shown in Fig. II.

The structure being in the situation shown in Figs. II and III, the jacks I are removed, and the timbers 6, and the dry-dock structure then remains sustained by the block-andtackle units By the operation of the warping engine 15 and the paying out of cables M, the dry-dock section descends from the position shown, in Fig. II :to that shown in Fig. IV. In this descent the in clination of the section to the horizontal is grad,- ually increased, until it comes to launchingposition, its'bottom extending in parallelism to the ground ways. This is accomplished with safety and facility.

When the dry-dock section has been brought to the situation shown in Fig. IV, sleds l9 such as ordinarily are used for launching upon the ways 4 (sleds that ordinarily will be two-timber sleds, in place of the five-timber sleds 5..- and that rest upon and move upon the rails 4) are brought toposition beneath the dry-dock section, and the sleds is are secured .by cables 2a. The dry-dock section is then transferred to rest solidly upon the sleds l9, and in making transfer the sleds 5 and the trucks 8 are, taken away. The blockand-tackle units then are removed, and thesestion remains, situated as shown in Fig, V ready for launching. Whenall is ready, the cables 20 are cut and launching follows.

The invention manifestly is not limited to the launching of; dry-dock sections, but-is applicable to the transfer of elongate and heavy articles from horizontal to inclined ways. .Q I claim as my invention: I 1 1. The method herein described of transferring a heavy and elongate article from horizontal to inclined ways, which consist in advancing the article upon the horizontal ways until at its forward endit overhangs the inclined ways, transferring the article topiv-otal support at its two ends. pon t o carri ges movable, one upon the inclined ;ways; theother upon the horizontal ways, causing the carriages and the article so supported by them to advance in such assembly, with the gradual turning of the article to parallelism with the inclined ways, and transferring the article to support wholly upon the inclined ways.

2. The method herein described of transferring a heavy and elongate article from a support moving in right-line course upon horizontal ways to a support moving in right-line course upon inclined ways, which consists in advancing the article while resting upon the support moving in right-line course upon the horizontal ways to a position in which at its forward end the article overhangs the inclined ways, transferring the article to support upon two carriages, one of which, movable upon the inclined ways, pivotally engages the article at its forward end and the other, movable upon the horizontal ways, pivotally engages the article at its remote end, causing the carriages and the article so pivotally supported upon them to advance in such assembly, with the gradual turning of the article to parallelism with the inclined ways, and then transferring the article to the support moving in right-line course upon the inclined ways.

3. The method herein described of transferring a heavy and elongate article from horizontal to inclined ways, which consists in advancing the article upon the horizontal ways to a position overhanging the inclined ways at their upper end, causing carriage means to move upward on the inclined ways to a position of pivotal engagement from beneath with the article at its so overhanging end, raising the remote end of the article, and in so doing causing the article at its advance end to rest and turn pivotally upon the carriage means upon the inclined ways, advancing carriage means upon the horizontal ways to a position beneath the raised remote end of the article and causing the article at its remote end to come to rest pivotally upon the last named carriage means, whereby, all other support being absent, the article so supported rests entirely upon the carriage means, causing the two carriage means and the article so pivotally borne by them to advance in such assembly, with the gradual turning of the article to parallelism with the inclined ways, and transferring the turned article to supporting means that rest wholly upon such inclined ways.

4. The method herein described of bringin an elongate floating structure to position for launching over inclined ways, which consists in advancing the structure in horizontal course to a position in which at its forward end it overhangs the inclined ways at their upper end, moving a support upwardly upon the inclined ways and causing it to engage pivotally from beneath the so advanced and overhanging end of the structure, raising the remote end of the structure and causing the structure at its remote end to rest pivotally upon a second support, and in so doing bringing the entire weight of the structure to rest upon the two said supports,

transferring the structure to launching blocksupon the inclined Ways.

5. The method herein described of bringing an elongate floating structure to position for launching upon inclined ways, which consists in advancing the structure in horizontal course to a position in which at its forward end it overhangs the inclined ways at their upper end, moving a support upwardly upon the inclined ways and causing it to engage pivotally from beneath the so advanced and overhanging end of the structure, securing such support against downward movement upon the inclined ways, raising the remote end of the structure and causing the structure at its remote end to rest pivotally upon a second support, and in so doing bringing the entire weight of the structure to rest upon the two supports, releasing the first named support and causing the assembly of the two supports and the structure resting pivotally upon them to advance, the first-named support down the inclined ways, the second in horizontal course, and in so doing bringing the structure to position above and parallel to the inclined ways, and transferring the structure from the said supports to launching blocks upon the inclined ways.

6. In the operation of launching apparatus that includes inclined ways, horizontal tracks that extend to proximity to the inclined ways at the upper end thereof, launching sleds adapted to move upon said inclined ways, auxiliary sleds adapted to afford pivotal support to a structure to be launched and adapted to move upon said inclined ways, transfer carriages adapted to move on said horizontal tracks, and trucks adapted to afford pivotal support to a structure to be launched and adapted to move upon said horizontal tracks, the method herein described which consists in advancing the structure to be launched while supported upon the transfer carriages to a position in which at its forward end it overhangs the inclined ways at their upper end, moving upward upon the inclined ways the auxiliary sleds and bringing them to pivotal engagement from beneath with the overhanging forward end of the structure to be launched, elevating at its rear end the structure to be launched, advancing the trucks upon the horizontal tracks and bringing them to pivotal engagementfrom beneath with the elevated rear end of the structure to be launched, advancing the auxiliary sleds and the trucks so assembled with the pivotally borne structure to be launched, and in so doing bringing the structure to be launched to a position above and parallel to said inclined ways, and transferring the structure to be launched to the launching sleds.

PATRICK M. OLAUGHL'IN. 

